Direct Drive Radiator Cooling Fan Hub

ABSTRACT

A direct drive radiator cooling fan hub replaces functionality of the electronic thermal clutch fan of a vehicle in order to eliminate an overheating engine that is caused due to extreme weather conditions, higher elevations, or higher/extreme towing capacities. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub includes a cylindrical body, at least one flange, a plurality of fan blade attachments, and a fan pully attachment nut. The cylindrical body, the at least one flange, and the fan pully attachment nut are concentrically positioned with each other as the at least one flange is terminally connected to the cylindrical body. The fan pully attachment nut is terminally connected to the at least one flange, opposite of the cylindrical body. The plurality of fan blade attachments is radially positioned around the rotational axis and traverses into the cylindrical body, adjacent to the at least one flange.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/484,647 filed on Apr. 12, 2017.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a radiator cooling fan hub. More specifically, the present invention is a direct drive radiator cooling fan hub to eliminate engine overheating that is caused due to a failing or inefficient electronic thermal clutch fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the most common problems associated with a failing or inefficient electronic thermal clutch fan is an overheating engine. The electronic thermal clutch fan is responsible for controlling the operation of the radiator cooling fans of a vehicle. For examples, A bad or failing electronic thermal clutch fan may not engage properly thus disabling the radiator cooling fan operation with in a vehicle causing it to overheat. When a vehicle is towing a heavy load under extreme cold or hot weather conditions, the electronic thermal clutch fan may not operate up to the maximum efficiency for cooling the engine properly. The efficiency of the electronic thermal clutch fan is normally tested at the standard room temperature. When a vehicle is towing a heavy load in a higher elevation, the electronic thermal clutch fan may not operate up to the maximum efficiency. The efficiency of the electronic thermal clutch fan is normally tested at the sea level, wherein the elevation is not a factor and tested under non-extreme towing conditions. As a result of those examples, the engine may result in overheating and lead to more serious mechanical issues as the operator of the vehicle may be unaware of the failing or inefficient electronic thermal clutch. Furthermore, it also affects the air conditioning, transmission cooling, the engine oil temperature, and radiator temperature.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to introduce an apparatus for a direct drive radiator cooling fan hub that replaces the existing electronic thermal clutch fan. More specifically, the present invention provides a direct drive and non-electronic hub between a fan pully of the engine and a radiator cooling fan assembly of the vehicle thus eliminating potential problems such as failing electronic parts, failing mechanically coupled parts, and inefficiency that are currently present within the electronic thermal clutch fan and the control module. As a result, the present invention is able to eliminate engine overheating in relation to a bad or failing electronic thermal clutch fan, higher elevations, extreme hot or cold weather conditions, racing, or towing. The present invention also optimizes the efficiency of the air conditioning process, transmission cooling process, oil temperature, and the radiator temperature thus resulting less thermal stress on the engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention showing the first base wall.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention showing the second base wall and equally spaced plurality of fan blade attachments.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a direct drive radiator cooling fan hub that replaces functionality of the electronic thermal clutch fan of a vehicle. More specifically, the electronic thermal clutch fan is designed to perform under normal conditions such as the sea level, the standard room temperature, and daily transportation. However, one of the common problem with vehicles that utilize the electronic thermal clutch fan is an overheating engine due extreme weather conditions, higher elevations, or higher/extreme towing capacities as the electronic thermal clutch fan is either a failing part or not able to perform up to maximum efficiency. The present invention is able to overcome the engine overheating problem as the present invention provides a direct drive and non-electronic hub in between a fan pully of the engine and a radiator cooling fan assembly of the vehicle. As a result, the present invention is continuously able to power the radiator cooling fan assembly without factoring outside elements such as elevation and temperature. In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a cylindrical body 1, at least one flange 5, a plurality of fan blade attachments 6, a fan pully attachment nut 7, and a rotational axis 11 thus completing the body of the direct drive radiator cooling fan hub.

The cylindrical body 1, which provides the necessary surface area to mount a radiator cooling fan of the vehicle, comprises a first base wall 2, a second base wall 3, and a lateral wall 4 as shown in FIG. 2-4. More specifically, the first base wall 2 is perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall 4. The second base wall 3 being perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall 4, opposite of the first base wall 2. As a result, the first base wall 2, the second base wall 3, and the lateral wall 4 delineate the rigid body for the cylindrical body 1. Furthermore, the first base wall 2 is flat surface and oriented towards a radiator of the vehicle. The second base wall 3 is also flat surface and oriented towards the fan pully thus providing surface area to position the rest of the component of the present invention with precision and balance. In reference to FIG. 2-3, the rotational axis 11 is concentrically positioned along the cylindrical body 1 delineating the axis of symmetry that the present invention rotates about. The thickness and the diameter of the cylindrical body 1 can vary upon different embodiment of the present invention to adopt different engine capacities and engine bay clearances.

The at least one flange 5 that centrally positions the radiator cooling fan is concentrically positioned along the rotational axis 11 and terminally connected to the cylindrical body 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5. More specifically, the at least one flange 5 is adjacently connected to the second base wall 3 so that the at least one flange 5 can function as a centering hub pilot for the radiator cooling fan from the second base wall 3. The at least one flange 5 also provides axial clearance between the cylindrical body 1 and the fan pully, along the rotational axis 11, thus providing an obstruction free area for present invention to operate. The at least one flange 5 is preferably a circular shaped body to accommodate the circular opening of the radiator cooling fan. However, the at least one flange 5 is not limited to the circular shape and can be any other geometric shapes to match the opening of the radiator cooling fan. The thickness and the diameter of the at least one flange 5 can vary upon different embodiment of the present invention to adopt different radiator cooling fan diameters and engine bay clearances.

The plurality of fan blade attachments 6 provides a mean to secure the radiator fan to the cylindrical body 1. In reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the plurality of fan blade attachments 6 is radially positioned around the rotational axis 11. The plurality of fan blade attachments 6 traverses into the cylindrical body 1 and positioned adjacent to the at least one flange 5. More specifically, the plurality of fan blade attachments 6 traverses into the cylindrical body 1 from the second base wall 3 as the at least flange 5 is positioned adjacent to the second base wall 3. Additionally, each of the plurality of fan blade attachments 6 is equally spaced apart from each other around the cylindrical body 1 to eliminate rotational vibration when the present invention is operational. For example, when the plurality of fan blade attachments 6 comprises four attachments, each attachment is 90 degrees apart from each other. When the plurality of fan blade attachments 6 comprises six attachments, each attachment is 60 degrees apart from each other. Each of the plurality of fan blade attachments 6 is preferably a threaded hole that receives a threaded male fastener so that the radiator cooling fan can be secured to the cylindrical body 1.

The fan pully attachment nut 7 attaches the present invention to the fan pully. In reference to FIG. 3, the fan pully attachment nut 7 is concentrically positioned along the rotational axis 11. The fan pully attachment nut 7 is terminally connected to the at least one flange 5 and positioned opposite of the cylindrical body 1. More specifically, the fan pully attachment nut 7 comprises a hexagonal section 8, an annular section 9, and a threaded inner wall 10. The hexagonal section 8 is adjacently connected to the at least one flange 5 and opposite of the cylindrical body 1. The annular section 9 is adjacently connected to the hexagonal section 8 and positioned opposite of the at least one flange 5. The threaded inner wall 10 traverses into the annular section 9 and the hexagonal section 8 along the rotational axis 11. As a result, the threaded inner wall 10 engages with the fan pully wherein the hexagonal section 8 allows a wrench to be externally engaged and tighten or loosen the present invention. The annular section 9 maintains a space between the hexagonal section 8 and the fan pully so that the rotational movement of the wrench does not damage or come in contact with the fan pully during the installation process. The threaded inner wall 10 preferably provides reverse rotation similar to the existing electronic thermal clutch fan. However, the threaded inner wall 10 may provide forward rotation if a specific engine design requires the forward rotation.

In order to withstand applied torque and to reduce the weight, the present invention is preferably made from 6061 aluminum. However, the present invention is not limited 6061 aluminum and can be made from any other type of material high strength and lightweight materials to minimize wear and tear on the fan pully and to allow longevity of the bearing. Since the present invention operates under any environmental conditions and does not require a computer or an electronic thermostat to operate, the present invention immediately and continuously implements the cooling process for the engine. As a result, the present invention can be beneficial for government tactical vehicles that relies on engine fan cooling to keep the interior and engine cool, for race trucks with the higher engine capacity, for commercial trucks that haul heavy loads.

Since the present invention does not require additional component during the installation and provide a direct attachment to the fan pully, the present invention facilitate an easy installation process. in reference to the installation method, first, loosen all shroud fan bolts and unplug the fan shroud on bottom of the radiator. Then, loosen the fan hub nut and spin off the fan hub. Then, Lift the radiator cooling fan and the electronic thermal clutch fan out of engine compartment to remove the bolt fasteners that connect the radiator cooling fan to the electronic thermal clutch fan. The radiator cooling fan is then positioned flush with the at least one flange 5 and reattached to present invention through the plurality of fan blade attachments 6. The present invention is then reinstalled between the fan shroud and the radiator as the fan pully attachment nut 7 is threaded onto the fan pully with reverse rotation (or forward rotation depending on the engine design). As the final step, the fan shroud is then reinstalled thus covering the present invention and the radiator cooling fan.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical body 1 is 7 inches in diameter and 2 inches in thickness. The diameter for the each of the plurality of fan blade attachments 6 is 5/16 inches, and the inner diameter of the fan pully attachment nut 7 is 19/16 inches. The weight is about 3.5 pounds. The aforementioned dimensions of the preferred embodiment are specifically adopted for 2003-2017 Dodge vehicles with a 6.7 Cummins Engine, 2003-2007 Dodge vehicles with a 5.9 Cummins Engine, and All vehicles with 6.7/5.9 Cummins from 2003 to 2017.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A direct drive radiator cooling fan hub comprises; a cylindrical body; at least one flange; a plurality of fan blade attachments a fan pully attachment nut; a rotational axis; the cylindrical body, the at least one flange, and the fan pully attachment nut being concentrically positioned along the rotational axis; the at least one flange being terminally connected to the cylindrical body; the fan pully attachment nut being terminally connected to the at least one flange, opposite of the cylindrical body; the plurality of fan blade attachments being radially positioned around the rotational axis; and the plurality of fan blade attachments being traversing into the cylindrical body, adjacent to the at least one flange.
 2. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 1 comprises; the cylindrical body comprises a first base wall, a second base wall, and a lateral wall; the first base wall being perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall; and the second base wall being perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall, opposite of the first base wall.
 3. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first base wall being a flat surface.
 4. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second base wall being a flat surface.
 5. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one flange being adjacently connected to a second base wall of the cylindrical body.
 6. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of fan blade attachments traversing into the cylindrical body from a second base wall of the cylindrical body.
 7. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of fan blade attachments being equally spaced apart from each other around the cylindrical body.
 8. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 1 comprises; the fan pully attachment nut comprises a hexagonal section, an annular section, and a threaded inner wall; the hexagonal section being adjacently connected to the at least one flange, opposite of the cylindrical body; the annular section being adjacently connected to the hexagonal section, opposite of the at least one flange; and the threaded inner wall traversing into the annular section and the hexagonal section along the rotational axis.
 9. A direct drive radiator cooling fan hub comprises; a cylindrical body; at least one flange; a plurality of fan blade attachments a fan pully attachment nut; a rotational axis; the fan pully attachment nut comprises a hexagonal section, an annular section, and a threaded inner wall; the cylindrical body, the at least one flange, and the fan pully attachment nut being concentrically positioned along the rotational axis; the at least one flange being terminally connected to the cylindrical body; the hexagonal section being adjacently connected to the at least one flange, opposite of the cylindrical body; the annular section being adjacently connected to the hexagonal section, opposite of the at least one flange; the threaded inner wall traversing into the annular section and the hexagonal section along the rotational axis; the plurality of fan blade attachments being radially positioned around the rotational axis; and the plurality of fan blade attachments being traversing into the cylindrical body, adjacent to the at least one flange.
 10. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 9 comprises; the cylindrical body comprises a first base wall, a second base wall, and a lateral wall; the first base wall being perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall; and the second base wall being perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall, opposite of the first base wall.
 11. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first base wall being a flat surface.
 12. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second base wall being a flat surface.
 13. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one flange being adjacently connected to a second base wall of the cylindrical body.
 14. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of fan blade attachments traversing into the cylindrical body from a second base wall of the cylindrical body.
 15. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of fan blade attachments being equally spaced apart from each other around the cylindrical body.
 16. A direct drive radiator cooling fan hub comprises; a cylindrical body; at least one flange; a plurality of fan blade attachments a fan pully attachment nut; a rotational axis; the cylindrical body comprises a second base wall; the fan pully attachment nut comprises a hexagonal section, an annular section, and a threaded inner wall; the cylindrical body, the at least one flange, and the fan pully attachment nut being concentrically positioned along the rotational axis; the at least one flange being terminally connected to the second base wall of the cylindrical body; the hexagonal section being adjacently connected to the at least one flange, opposite of the cylindrical body; the annular section being adjacently connected to the hexagonal section, opposite of the at least one flange; the threaded inner wall traversing into the annular section and the hexagonal section along the rotational axis; the plurality of fan blade attachments being radially positioned around the rotational axis; and the plurality of fan blade attachments being traversing into the cylindrical body from the second base wall, adjacent to the at least one flange.
 17. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 16 comprises; the cylindrical body further comprises a first base wall and a lateral wall; the first base wall being perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall; and the second base wall being perimetrically positioned around the lateral wall, opposite of the first base wall.
 18. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first base wall being a flat surface.
 19. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second base wall being a flat surface.
 20. The direct drive radiator cooling fan hub as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of fan blade attachments being equally spaced apart from each other around the cylindrical body. 